Study on Addition of Vermicompost and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Substrate Mixtures for Organic Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L) Seedling Production

摘要

The influence of vermicompost mixture with burnt rice hulls, coconut husk and with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus inoculation on muskmelon seedling performance and nutrient uptake was studied. Inoculated and non-inoculated plants were transplantedin cell with burnt rice hulls and coconut husk added with different vermicompost proportions (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%). Substrate with vermicompost mixture was evaluated physiochemical properties, nutrient concentration. Muskmelon seedling was analyzed for macro and micronutrient content in the shoots. There are significant differences in shoot and root dry weights between mycorrhizal and control plants, whereas the addition of vermicompost to substrate until 30% increased shoot dry weight and leaf area. AM muskmelon seedling showed significantly higher concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) while addition vermicompost in substrates affected difference on macro and micronutrient content in shoots.These results show that the use of vermicompost with 30% ratio gave the best condition of physicochemical characteristic of substrate resulted improved muskmelon seedling performance and AM fungi activities, affecting the nutrient concentration in the shoots.